A Rockdale County 4-H student was named one of Georgia's two top youth volunteers for 2012 by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards for raising money to help economically disadvantaged students get involved with 4-H and Boys and Girls Club activities.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, now in its 17th year, is a nation-wide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism and is conducted by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

Rashad Holmes, an eighth grade student at Memorial Middle School in Conyers, has been an active member of Rockdale County 4-H since the 5th grade. Holmes was honored with the award by his efforts to make and sell cookies in order to donate his proceeds to pay for disadvantaged students to go on school field trips and to help get them involved in 4-H and Boys and Girls Club activities. 

Holmes loves to cook with his father, and after winning a 4-H cookie contest in 2008, he began making cookies for friends and family members. When someone suggested his cookies were good enough to sell, Holmes launched his “Lil Chef” cookie business. “After a while of selling cookies, I decided that I should give back to my community” said Holmes.

He also started speaking to young audiences about how to become an entrepreneur. In addition, Holmes donates some of his most popular cookies, including “Macadamia Madness White Chocolate Chip” and “Conga Triple Chocolate Chip” to various organizations.  “I get so much satisfaction when I volunteer to help the community” said Holmes.

As a State honoree, Holmes will receive $1,000, an engraved silver medallion, and an all-expense-paid trip in early May to Washington, D. C. where he will tour the capital’s landmarks, attend a gala awards ceremony the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, and visit their congressional representatives on Capitol Hill.

In addition, 10 of the students – five middle school students and five high school students – will be named National Honorees on May 7. These honorees will receive additional $5,000 awards, gold medallions, crystal trophies $5,000 grants from The Prudential Foundation for nonprofit charitable organizations of their choice.

For more information about Rockdale County 4-H, contact Brittany Johnson, Rockdale County 4-H Agent, at britj112@uga.edu or 770-278-7373.